roubaixtuesday
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Tom Clarke, science editor:
There has definitely been a drop off in the number of COVID tests being done. This is partly because the system was struggling to cope with the demand for PCR tests in the run up to Christmas, and then because of the change to the requirement for testing brought in to try and manage that demand. We also know that not everybody who tests positive with a lateral flow test will upload that result to the NHS test and trace system.
So right now, we can't simply rely on the daily case numbers as a good indication of whether the outbreak is still growing or not. Nor is it a brilliant reflection of how many cases there actually are
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Are daily cases now meaningless? Is media ignoring vaccine side effects? Why do we have to stick swab up nose? Your questions answered
Sky News has run a series of live Q&As on COVID and the ending of restrictions. Science editor Tom Clarke answered your questions right here in a live online Q&A this afternoon - and an expert panel tackled more of your questions on Sky News.news.sky.com
Regular session by sky , they have reported well and accurately from the start
Here a comparison of case numbers (red line) vs the ONS survey (blue circles), which isn't affected by the testing issues.
Seems to show the case numbers are a very good indicator of what's going on.
